Author Archives: jsjdevotions

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May 18, 2015

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Joy, Knowing Him, Nature, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

“AHA!” MOMENTS

aha2webPraise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! [Psalm 148:7-13 (NLT)]

We had a plane to catch but, before spending hours sitting on an airplane, I wanted to take a quick walk. Knowing my tendency to lose track of time whenever I have camera in hand, I deliberately left it at home. A blue jay was perched on a low branch and never moved as I walked past. Also apparently oblivious to my presence, a great blue heron stood quietly while river otters played at the edge of the pond. Unmindful of me, a red-bellied woodpecker started hammering on a nearby tree, a baby bunny stopped in the grass beside me, and then an enormous bright green Cuban knight anole slowly crossed my path. Peeved at missing these great photo ops, I complained: “God, how can you torment me this way? I’ve been trying to get shots like these for ages; now you give them to me when I have no camera!” At first, it seemed like God had a wicked sense of humor and was messing with me. That, however, wasn’t the case. He was telling me something important and it wasn’t, “Always take your camera!” I was being told that appreciating God’s splendid handiwork is far more important than taking pictures of it. A good photograph is not the purpose of God’s “Aha!” moments; those occurrences are to remind us of the magnificence of his creation and His overwhelming presence in our lives. Although I took no pictures that morning, my breath was taken away in awe, wonder, praise and thanks; I felt God’s powerful presence and returned home filled with joy.

Later that day, while reading 1 Romans, I came across the following verse: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” [Romans 1:20 (NLT)] Those words helped me recognize the truth of what I thought God was telling me through that morning’s circumstances. Since that day, I’ve managed to get most of the shots I missed that day. The anole, however, while spotted by neighbors several times in front of our house, has eluded me. I hope God doesn’t have another lesson planned when it decides to reappear, unless, of course, it’s has to do with patience: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” [Psalm 40:1 (NLT)]

Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! [Psalm 96:6-8a (NLT)]

P.S. The day I finished writing this devotion, I felt the urge to walk outside and check out the tree in front of our house. The anole was there and I even had my camera ready. Not satisfied with the shot, however, I stepped closer and he quickly scampered up the tree and out of sight. Perhaps God was telling me that there are some “Aha!” moments that are simply meant to be kept in our memories and not in pixels on the computer! You can’t tell me He doesn’t have a sense of humor!

 

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May 11, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holidays & Holy Days

MOTHERS-IN-LAW – MOTHER’S DAY

“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” [Ruth 2:11-12 (NLT)]

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Now in my seventh decade, I view the Bible story of Ruth from an entirely different perspective than when I was younger. While I used to connect with the youthful woman, Ruth, I now relate to the older one (and mother-in-law), Naomi. In a time of famine, Naomi and her husband Elimelech moved from Judah to Moab with their two sons. Even though Jewish law forbade it, their sons married local girls: Orpah and Ruth. Unfortunately, all three men died, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth widows. In those days, there was little worse than being a widow; widows were ignored, usually poverty stricken, and often victimized. Since a widow’s closest relative was supposed to take care of her, Naomi decided to return to her relatives in Judah. Orpah and Ruth set out to go with her, but Naomi stopped and advised them to go back to their families in Moab, telling the young women that she had nothing for them. Orpah, perhaps wisely, chose to return home. Ruth, however, chose to stay and said those words we often hear repeated in wedding ceremonies: “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.” [Ruth 1:16-17 (NLT)]

What an amazing declaration of love! It’s one you might expect from a wife to a husband but not from a son’s wife to her mother-in-law. What was it about Naomi that could inspire such words from her daughter-in-law? What kind of woman earns that much love and loyalty? What kind of woman arouses such devotion that her daughter-in-law willingly leaves the safety of her homeland to share a poverty-stricken existence with her? She’s certainly not the kind about whom bad mother-in-law jokes are written.

Naomi must have been cool and calm, loving and gracious. Perhaps she kept the Biblical equivalent of duct tape handy to place over her mouth when necessary. I’m sure she never interfered or told her sons’ wives how to manage their households. In spite of the fact they weren’t Jewish, Naomi must have accepted, loved and respected her daughters-in-law as if they were her very own daughters. Finally, she must have had a deep faith in God that was evident in the way she lived. Otherwise, why would Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s one God rather than the pagan gods of Moab?

My fervent prayer is that I can be a Ruth to my mother-in-law, a women deserving of such love and devotion. Moreover, I pray that I can be a Naomi to my daughters-in-law. Heavenly Father, show me how to be a woman filled with kindness and wisdom, love and faith. May I be the sort of woman who can inspire these loving words: “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. … Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. [Proverbs 31:25-26,30 (NLT)]

 

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May 9, 2015

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him, Nature

HIS LOVE – Mother’s Day 2015

DSC05555-2redHe spreads his wings over them, even as an eagle overspreads her young. She carries them upon her wings – as does the Lord his people! [Deuteronomy 32:11 (TLB)]

These last few years, I’ve been blessed to watch a family of swans who nest in a nearby park. I’ve observed them take turns sitting on the nest, taking their babies for a swim and even teaching them to fly. Last year, I saw a mother swan actually taking her baby for a ride on her back, sheltering the cygnet with her wings. Moses probably never saw a swan because, if he had, he might have mentioned the swan in Deuteronomy as well as the eagle.

Thank you, God, for being like a mother bird, protecting us from harm, carrying us when we’re too weak to do it alone, and teaching us to fly. Thank you for our mothers and for every other woman who has acted in your place and boldly watched over and protected our young, helped them through the challenges of childhood and taught them the skills they need to be independent adults.

A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. [Agatha Christie]

There is no friendship, no love, like that of a parent for the child. [Henry Ward Beecher]

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May 8, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Plan, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Today: Make it Count

SEIZE THE DAY

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. [James 4:13-14 (MSG)]

My wife was dead. All those things we were going to do together were now impossible. We had spent a lifetime working toward that distant goal, making promises to ourselves that now we would never fulfill. Sure, it’s important to plan for the future, but think about this: You’ve had the gift of yesterday, and you are living today with its choices and opportunities, but who knows if you will have tomorrow? You’ve heard it time and time again, but I will tell you – and I know it’s true, because the painful lesson is etched into my yesterday – no one has a guarantee of tomorrow. That’s why it is so important today to tell our spouses and loved ones what they mean to us. [From “Hiking Through” by Paul Stutzman]

5-8-15seizewebThe day I started reading Paul Stutzman’s book Hiking Through, about his journey on the Appalachian Trail, was the same day I learned that a friend’s wife has conceded defeat in her war against cancer. Having recently received the last rites, her remaining time is measured in just days and hours. What struck me is the similarity between both men’s situations. Like my friend’s wife, after a long and painful struggle, Stutzman’s spouse lost her battle with cancer. Both couples had persisted through their difficult yesterdays: the financial and professional struggles of the early years and the stress of raising children. They were approaching what I think of as the “wonder” years: those blessed years when careers are secure, the children are capable young adults, money is no longer scarce, health is still good, and there are time and funds enough for travel. Those highly anticipated carefree and joy-filled tomorrows will never happen for either couple.

Having lost my parents in their prime (my mother was only forty-seven and my father just fifty-six), I’ve always had an awareness of life’s brevity. That doesn’t mean I don’t waste precious moments of every today by reliving my yesterdays or anticipating my hoped for tomorrows. May these men’s experiences remind us all that we must take delight in every precious today granted to us. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon makes the point that there is a right time for each activity in life. It is, however, always the right time to praise God for the blessings of the day. Moreover, there is never a wrong time to tell those we love how much we care for them and how precious they are to us.

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace. [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (MSG)]

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May 7, 2015

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Church & Worship, Holidays & Holy Days, Obedience, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

DO THE WAVE

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Listen to Your servant’s prayer and his petition, Lord my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant prays before You today, [1 Kings 8:28 (HCSB)]

In 2008, 157,574 fans at the Bristol Motor Speedway participated in the world’s largest audience wave. Successive groups of spectators briefly stood, yelled as they raised their arms and then quickly returned to their seats. The Bristol wave traveled around the stadium in a continuous circuit four times for a distance of two miles. Today, we have an opportunity to participate in a much larger wave: a wave of prayer. The first Thursday of May is designated as the National Day of Prayer. At noon, the same prayer will be simultaneously offered throughout our nation. Unlike an audience wave, there’s no need to be in a stadium or arena. You can pray wherever you happen to be. Can you imagine how many hundreds of thousands could participate in this wave of prayer that will stretch over 2,800 miles across just the continental U.S? Add Hawaii and that wave of prayer would travel about 5,000 miles! Today at noon, please join thousands of others and offer this prayer for our nation.

[2015 National Prayer by Dr. Jack Graham]

 Heavenly Father,

We come to You in the Name that is above every name—Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hearts cry out to You. Knowing that You are a prayer-answering, faithful God—the One we trust in times like these—we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches, and heal our land.

We repent of our sins and ask for Your grace and power to save us. Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in obedience to Your Word. We are desperate for Your tender mercies. We are broken and humbled before You. Forgive us, and in the power of Your great love, lift us up to live in Your righteousness.

We pray for our beloved nation. May we repent and return to You and be a light to the nations. And we pray for our leaders and ask that You give them wisdom and faith to follow You. Preserve and protect us, for You are our refuge and only hope. Deliver us from all fears except to fear You, and may we courageously stand in the Truth that sets us free.

We pray with expectant faith and grateful hearts. In Jesus’ name, our Savior. Amen.

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May 6, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Love & Works, Wisdom & Guidance

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. [Philippians 4:8 (MSG)]

5-16-15mottled duck - IW583-cropwebI remember playing a game called “What’s Wrong with this Picture?” with my children when they got their Highlights™ magazine. We’d look at a drawing and try to spot all of the weird and wacky things that didn’t belong in the picture. Sometimes, we continue to play that game as adults but, instead of looking for oddities, we simply seek out everything that seems wrong.

As I recover from my foot surgery, I have to remain off my feet as much as possible. That means giving up all sorts of domestic duties to my patient and loving husband. This reversal of roles has required an attitude adjustment on both our parts. Although he is at my beck and call, I know better than to abuse my role as patient (especially since he will soon have surgery and our roles will be reversed!)

This morning, I looked around the house and saw all sorts of things “wrong.” Fortunately, before I opened my mouth, I pondered the meaning of “wrong.” Certain things like adultery, theft and murder are clearly wrong. Certain things, like faithfulness, tithing, and compassion are clearly right. There are, however, a great many things that are neither exactly right nor wrong and they’re certainly not worth getting one’s undies in a bunch. These things include a tablecloth that is askew, dust on the tables, and crumbs on the countertop. There are even more things that are simply “wrong” because I have arbitrarily defined what is “right.” While my “right” includes towels that are folded in thirds, throw pillows always attractively arranged on the bed, and smoothies made with almonds and flaxseed, not everyone agrees!

We must  accept the disappointing truth that we are far from perfect. Moreover, the world around us isn’t perfect and, in spite of our best efforts, it’s never going to be. Finally, we need to remember it’s likely our definition of “perfect” or even “correct” has little to do with anyone else’s definitions of those words.

Jesus was the only perfect person and something tells me that things like less than stellar housekeeping or food not prepared his favorite way didn’t concern him. Unlike the Pharisees who spent much of their time deciding what was “wrong,” He was much more concerned with issues like love, compassion, healing, truth, righteousness and salvation. When He saw what was undoubtedly wrong, like the money changers at the temple, He reacted. When He saw the woman at the well, however, He didn’t see a woman who was wrong; He lovingly saw a soul to be saved and offered love and forgiveness.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for those who help us in our daily walk and offer their loving care. Give us appreciative hearts and voices. Stop us when we are tempted to complain, whine, or correct what truly doesn’t need correction. Give us the eyes and heart of Jesus and the discernment to know what is truly important in life.

A happy home is one in which each spouse grants the possibility that the other may be right, though neither believes it. [Don Fraser]

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. [Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG)]